No.203-4 　　　　

Since its foundation, teachers and students have worked together, helping each other as peers, rather than the conventional teacher-student relationship.
   Participants from dozens of countries are connected by a desire to live in Japan, speak Japanese and make friends. Their attitude when learning together, ignoring differences in religion, politics and customs, convinces me the class is a place where the Constitution of UNESCO is realized. This Constitution advocates that world peace is impossible without international understanding and cooperation.

   Japanese study is not the only achievement by the students; they are also increasingly keen to join UNESCO activities. One of these activities, by the International Exchange Committee mentioned on previous page, is an example where class participants joined in with the Japanese committee members. Ways to join Meguro UNESCO Association activities have varied; for example being an instructor on a UNESCO Spanish course, or adding a bit of sparkle to a concert by wearing national costumes. We have received an offer to participate in lectures on international understanding from an elementary school in this ward, so we are sure to get the cooperation of people from various countries this year too.

   In the 50th year of Meguro UNESCO Association, this group of about thirty members engaged in Japanese language education activities, thank our predecessors for their earlier devotion. We hope not only to enhance the study of Japanese, but also to realize the Constitution of UNESCO and to further enrich international exchange with friendship members. We look forward to the guidance and cooperation from many people this year.

International Support Activity Committee

Seriko Chatani, Chairperson, International Support Activity Committee

“The ability to read, write and calculate enables people to get out of poverty and change the system creating poverty.”

It is now the campaign season for collecting miswritten postcard contributions to fund the World Terakoya Movement. We’ve distributed campaign leaflets to all the elementary school pupils and junior high school students in Meguro City, and the donated cards are to be collected in January through February.  A lot of people have kindly cooperated for the campaign.  A little help from many people, not the devotion of a few members, can surely push the campaign forward. The following is the list of activities our annual campaign requires.  Why not join in?

The proceeds from the last Sept. bazaar were \260,627 and those from the mini-bazaar held at the art exhibition \42,300.   Thank you for your cooperation. 

   For the bazaar we have various activities that need many a helping hand: planning, making leaflets, donating & making things for sale, transporting donated goods, setting up counters at the venue, sorting goods and setting prices, working as salespersons, guards, or kitchen staff on the day of the bazaar, and after the bazaar, putting the hall in order.  We were happy that some friendship members also helped us with the last bazaar, but regrettably we didn’t have enough male help. 

   We believe many of you, our fellow members, have various abilities.  We’d like you to spend a little of your time doing what you can do for the bazaar.  Let’s enjoy working together.  We expect that a little help you give will lead to your active participation in our UNESCO activities.

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